How to get rid of scabies

What is scabies?

The word scabies comes from Latin and it means “itch”, as itching is one of the infection's primary symptoms. There are a lot of myths surrounding scabies, but in truth the actual disease is triggered by a small invertebrate mite (read: microscopic bug) called Sarcoptes Scabiei.

When this mite gets into contact with human skin, it starts burrowing deep inside it and deposits its eggs inside the skin core. When the eggs hatch, more mites start digging around the area, which causes the impression that the rash “spreads”.

It's these small invertebrates that cause the scabies rash and itch and they can easily spread from one host body to another through direct skin contact and in some cases, even indirectly! In the past, scabies was considered strictly as a sexually transmitted disease; however any type of skin contact may infect the other party. On some occasions, the mites can even be transmitted indirectly, through a towel, piece of clothing or anything else that can transport the mites from one body to another quick enough.

Scabies symptoms

Scabies symptoms are usually quite straightforward and the condition can easily be spotted with the naked eye. Intense itching, a swelling and reddening of the skin area that itches, small millimetric cuts that are the effects of the mites burrowing inside the skin as well as localized infections are clear signs of scabies.

Contrary to popular belief, scabies don't just “die down” if left untreated. In 95% of cases the mites that cause scabies will thrive and multiply inside the skin and the itching will intensify.

Treatment options for scabies

• Topical cream - There are three main types of scabies treatments available, each with its own level of risk and efficiency. Topical cream application used to be extremely common, but the lotions used were sometimes highly toxic and thus very risky, especially for children. Hexachlorocyclohexane (Lindane) or ivermectin were reported to cure scabies, but are usually not recommended by medics as safe scabies treatment methods.

• Pills - The second method uses medicinal tablet doses, which have an advantage over their topical counterparts in the fact that they are less toxic and ensure total coverage, in case the scabies rash has extended or infected several areas. Some tablets may trigger allergic reactions or even asthmatic ones.

• Sulphur ointment - Last but not least, one of the most common scabies treatment includes the use of sulfur ointments. Sulfur ointments are also applied topically, but they do not have the drawbacks of Lidane or other similar creams. Sulfur ointments are not toxic, hence they provide the safest way of treating the infection. Sulfur ointments are used on a worldwide scale as a home remedy for scabies, as they are over-the-counter drugs in most countries.